Sunday, December 27, 2015

Most
of my nomadic travel finds me in the continental lower 48 of the
United States. But, there have been those occasions when I have
crossed borders and oceans to lands afar. The U.S. has so much land
to explore and has been so much development during the approximately
500+ years since Europeans invaded the “New World” there is a
vast abundance of things to see and learn. Of course, other than the
native American Indian nations that inhabited this land before the
Europeans and their antiquity, most of the historic cities, towns and
structures in the U.S. are considered pretty modern compared to what
one finds in Europe, Africa, especially the Middle East, and Asia.

I
took this photo on one of my expeditions outside the borders of my
native country. This was also one of my earliest uses of digital
photography. The camera I shot this with was actually not much more
sophisticated than my first Kodak Brownie box camera I shot black and
white photos with. I got it for Christmas when I was probably 8 to 10
years old. True, this little digital camera was about half the size
of my Brownie, but utilized, basically, similar technology. It had a
simple viewfinder, a simple, fixed lens, a limited amount of memory
only allowing so many photos before they had to be “developed” in
the case of the Brownie or “downloaded” (no removable memory) in
the case of this small Olympus digital.

This
photo is of the ancient Castillo (castle) with the watch tower
overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Tulum dates back to the 13th
Century and is the only Mayan city known to have been built on the
coast. It was a seaport trading city in its day. While it has largely
been overridden by the jungle surrounding it, it is now a Mexican
national park and, accordingly is maintained. Tulum is also an
archaeological site, providing much information into the ancient
Mayan culture. When I visited, in 2003, visitors were no longer
allowed to climb on the ruins or go into the structures. Prior to
restricting open access, the ruins were being ruined, no pun
intended, by people climbing and chipping and leaving behind
graffiti.

This
site is beautiful and, I was there on a beautiful day in September.
It is pretty darn hot and very humid in this region, so my New
Zealand friends, who were also with me, and I shed our clothes to our
bathing suits and took a dip in the beautiful Caribbean with other
tourists. While it is a ruin, it is still remarkably well kept and I
would highly recommend a visit to Tulum if you happen to go to nearby
Cancun, a modern resort city, circa 1974, about 700 years newer.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Photos
of this house have appeared here before. But, as I was sitting here
the Sunday before Christmas 2015, I find myself contemplating a
number of aspects of my life. The idea of “commencements” crossed
my mind. Most people experience several commencements of various
kinds during a lifetime. This week's photo actually represents both a
graduation and commencement in my son's life and mine.

I
moved into this house in February 2003 and I departed the house the
end of October 2008. That was exactly five years and nine months from
the beginning to the end of my tenancy. It actually ranks as the home
I lived in the second longest time during my adult life. My son lived
here with me for about one year of my tenancy. It's actually the only
residence I've lived in since 1972, or about 30 years, where I didn't
have a full-time spouse/significant other living with me for any part
of my tenancy.

To
be a little more accurate, a graduation, beside the traditional
definition of receiving some kind of academic diploma or degree, also
means markers of some kind of designated measure. While a
commencement, often used to refer to the meaning of the word
graduation, actually means the beginning or starting place. This
house and property, I called it The Oakhill Ranch after my business
name, is both a graduation marker and a commencement place in both my
son's life and my life.

There
are a several markers or graduations, this house and the 49 acres it
sits in the middle of, represent for me. I mentioned two in the
previous paragraph. A third is that living on a property with a
sizable amount of acreage fulfilled another of my dreams. Still
another is it was the last residence/property I lived in that was
under my name and control. Yet another, it was the last place my son
lived on the east coast before departing for and commencing his life
on the west coast 12 years ago. And, finally, it is the commencement
place of the new, non-conforming, alternative, living free, nomadic
lifestyle I embarked on at the end of October 2008.

When
I moved to this property, The Oakhill Ranch, I only planned to stay
for two years. Ultimately, I lived here just short of six years. From
my birth until this property, I have lived in no less than 17
properties. That's one for about every four years of my life. There
are probably not many career military people who can claim that many
locations. Frankly, I'm not sure if that's a positive or a negative
claim. It is what it is and, of course, it's part of who I have
become.

So,
today I've been ruminating about my past and present. I just viewed a
YouTube documentary titled, “I'm Fine, Thanks,” and a feature
film distributed by Amazon.com titled, “The Words.” Both of these
movies moved me to my state of contemplation. Throughout our lives we
are inspired and moved by many people, places and things. I have
called them “pivotal” people, places and times on this blog. As
Thoreau wrote, something over 150 years ago, “ The mass of men (and
women) lead lives of quiet
desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”

Everything
this final third of my life is about commenced October 31, 2008 at
this location. Since that day, I have been assembling all the pieces
of the puzzle that have been my life. The vision has become clearer
and clearer and now, just over seven years later. I believe the words
of a popular song, penned by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and made
popular by Johnny Nash, are apropos, “I
can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my
way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be a
bright bright sunshiny day.”I
hope you have had or are on your way to your commencement of living
free. I hope you can see clearly and the rain, obstacles and dark
clouds are clearing and your bright, sunshiny future is beckoning
you.

More
on some of the things I touched on in the article will follow in
future articles. For now, live free and be happy. EH

Sunday, December 13, 2015

This
week I thought I'd feature something a little on the lighter (and
tastier) side. This is one of only 43 restaurants from a chain called
The Old Spaghetti Factory. This one happens to be in Fresno,
California, not far from my former mother-in-law's (still a best
friend of mine) and one of my former brother-in-law's places in
nearby Clovis, California.

I
have been to a few of the restaurants in different parts of the U.S.
including Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee. This
restaurant is located within, perhaps, a mile of the local, more
widely known and prolific national Italian cuisine restaurant, Olive
Garden.

There
are three significant differences between the two restaurants in my
mind. First, most Olive Gardens follow a pretty common external
appearance and decor. While they don't all look exactly the same,
they are usually unmistakable. The Old Spaghetti Factory restaurants
are all very uniquely different on the outside. They are often built
into very old buildings. In some cases the building might have been a
warehouse at one time. There are no two restaurants alike from
exterior appearance.

The
second difference is in the interior decor. Most Olive Gardens (and
I've been in a lot of them all over the U.S.), have a distinctly
similar Italian decor, but it is still, in most ways, a very typical
restaurant. The Old Spaghetti Factory typically uses the original
brick walls, open ceiling of the particular structure it's built in
and features unique lighting and uses church pews, antique bed
headboards and foot boards that one might typically expect to find in
old European castles, villas and manors to create dining booths from.
Additionally, prominently located in the center of the dining area is
an old streetcar fitted with tables and chairs. None of the
restaurant interiors are identical.

The
third difference is the menus. Olive Garden has a very diverse and
comprehensive menu featuring many special items to meet everyone's
tastes. The Old Spaghetti Factory menus may vary slightly from
location to location. But, more importantly, they are more limited in
the numbers and types of meals they offer on their menus and all
entrees on their dinner menus feature three courses. Of course, there
is a tasty bread service, but they also offer a choice of an Italian
soup or salad, the entree of the diner's choice and dessert
consisting of their house specialty, Italian Spumoni ice cream, all
inclusive in the price of the meal. There are, of course, extras,
like appetizers and such. But, still the menu is, in my opinion,
smaller, simpler and easier to make choices from. In general, the
prices are in line with Olive Garden prices, or perhaps a little
less.

When
I first went to one of The Old Spaghetti Factory Restaurants in the
late 70's or early 80's, there were a lot fewer restaurants and the
menu was even simpler. If I recall correctly, there wasn't a printed
menu at all. You simply ordered one of, typically, three entrees off
a chalk board at the entrance. All meals were the same price and all
were the three course meals they still serve. I really liked that
aspect of the restaurant back then. I find huge menus to be a pain in
my brain. Too much to read and think about to make a choice.

This
restaurant is, obviously the one located in Fresno, California and
the photo was taken from the car as we were driving past it. I've
been to this one several times with BJ, my former mother-in-law. It's
one of our favorite places to go when I'm hanging out in Clovis. And,
to be honest, we usually patronize the Olive Garden, too, though we
often have to wait longer to get seated at the Olive Garden. We
seldom have to wait more than a few minutes at The Old Spaghetti
Factory, probably because it has a larger seating capacity.

Look
them up on the Web and if you're ever in a city near one of these
restaurants, give yourself a treat and try it out.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

This
is not my photo! It's a stock photo I downloaded from the Web. I
could have chosen any of a number of photos of the scene of the
horrific terror attack that took place in the city of San Bernadino,
California this past week, but I chose something that was more
indicative of the city.

I
was in San Bernadino this past winter. It is a California city of
something over 215,000 people. Like several cities in California, it
has been going through difficult economic times and is dealing with a
bankruptcy. But, I don't care what the specific circumstances of any
city, town or village in the U.S., nothing should make it the target
of a terrorist attack. And, just as happened in Paris only a few
short weeks before, this unsuspecting city was dealt an undeserved
blow below the belt. But, even worse, it took the lives of 14
innocent people, physically wounded another 21 and emotionally and
psychologically wounded not only hundreds of people related to these
direct victims, but tens of thousands who see their hometown and the
world through different eyes, now.

My
first visit to San Bernadino was in the early 1970's, when the now
closed, Norton Air Force Base was part of that community. I was in
the Air Force, based in Washington, DC assigned to the Secretary of
the Air Force Office of Information. I was on a TDY (temporary duty)
assignment in California and was ready to return to Washington. I was
authorized to fly home by commercial airline, but chose to don my
blue uniform, drive my rental car to San Bernadino and fly home from
Norton Air Force Base on the “U.S. Air Force Airline.” That was
about 43 years ago.

I've
driven through San Bernadino a few times since then and, as I
mentioned, the latest time being in December of last year and again
in the early part of this year. And just one year later, this
horrendous event takes place. Of course, I couldn't have imagined
such an event taking place in San Bernadino, or anyplace else in the
U.S. for that matter. But, then again, just a little over 14 years
ago, in plain sight of where I grew up, two airliners became the
weapons of foreign terrorists who ultimately took the lives of nearly
3,000 innocent people that day.

No!
I'm not going to be stupid and blame workplace violence. No! I'm not
going to be stupid and blame inanimate, brainless, objects, namely
guns, for this. No! I'm not going to blame global warming or climate
change (whichever anyone wants to call it), racism, religious
persecution, the economy, education or anything else for this. I'm
going to blame the REAL cause – HATE! It's that plain and simple.
For all the good there is in this world, there is a lot of evil and
it manifests itself in four ways – HATE, GREED, CORRUPTION and
STUPIDITY!

The
stupidity part is mainly home-base right here in the U.S. It starts
from the top down. I'm so sick of political correctness and our
government trying to make us believe we're to blame for all of this.
Yes, we are arrogant. Yes, we are affluent in many ways, other than
just financial. Yes, we are materialistic, over-indulgent and even
shallow. But, in general, we are the most generous, caring, sharing
people in the world. We, in general are not the Kardashians or the
Trumps or the Obamas or the Caitlyn Jenners or any of the other “over
the top,” bigger than life, so called “idols” of American
idiocracy. We are just a whole lot of nice people.

Guess
what? A whole lot of nice people were massacred this week because
they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They
were celebrating a part of our American way of life when a couple
STUPID people full of HATE, and one of them born, raised and educated
in this very country, decided they were going to become the judges,
jury and executioners of people who never did a thing to them or
their child. They were treated like welcome members of The American
Way.

People
often ask me - because they know I'm a wandering, living free,
freedom loving nomad, exploring the country of my origin,
experiencing its beauty and wonder and meeting the wonderful
diversity of people who make up this great place – whether I carry
a gun with me for self-defense. Frankly, whether I do or whether I
don't is no one's business except my own. It's another of the
personal choices we can all make in our lives. In order to defuse a
controversial subject before it has the opportunity to turn into a
discussion or argument that I personally don't want to be involved
in. I typically will say, I don't. But, only I know the truth and
that's going to be the way it remains.

However,
let me go on record to say, I support the 2nd Amendment.
No! I'm not an NRA member. I have no need or desire to become an NRA
member. But, I know one thing for certain. Evil, stupid, hate-filled,
greedy and corrupt people WILL always find a way to get their hands
on the inanimate objects we call guns and all their accessories and
ammunition and will use them against unarmed people, regardless of
whatever controls are put on obtaining and owning such inanimate
objects.

Further,
they will continue to buy readily available materials and, with
knowledge readily available on the Internet, construct bombs, IEDs
(as they are now called) and weapons of mass destruction just like
these two mad dogs in San Bernadino had. Evil people with no outlook
for a future for themselves will embrace ideologies that reward them
in their death to take on suicide missions and attacks (and suicide
attacks are as old as humanity).

So,
my heart, my thoughts and my prayers go out to the families of the
dead victims, the wounded and their families and the people of San
Bernadino, California for the losses they experienced this past week.
But, even more, my heart and thoughts go out to all the personal
freedom loving people in the U.S. and the world and ask you to pull
your fucking heads out of the sand and start calling evil what it is.
Stop blaming it on everything that has nothing to do with it.

I'm
sorry, but innocent people will die when right/good stands up against
evil and destroys evil. No civilized person is happy about that and
none of us condone it. But, that is part of the cost. And, I have to
support that over innocent people anywhere being tortured and
massacred barbarically and inhumanely by stupid, hating, evil people
who don't give a damn who they kill, period.

That's
my piece for today. Like it or lump it. I don't care. I love life. I
love living it without fear and intimidation. And I sure as hell
don't want my life ended because of too damn many politically correct
assholes, both in and out of our government, who can't stand up like real
men and women and call a duck a duck, a hate monger a hate monger and a terrorist a terrorist and stop this shit! Happy Holidays and remember to live
free and be happy. EH

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Here
is just one of the many vistas of this unique landscape. This is in
Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It's one more example of the
awesome scenery, topography and geology that makes up the United
States.

I
drove through Badlands National Park the first time in late September
of 2010 when I drove to Rapid City to finalize my change of residence
and domicile to South Dakota and obtain my South Dakota drivers
license. This is the fifth state I've held a drivers license from and
had voting privileges.

It
continues to amaze me how much there is to see just in the lower 48
of the United States. I've only scratched the surface and I've been
traveling around this country for the better part of 50 years. Of
course, a good part of that was on business, so the travel was mainly
to major cities and metropolitan areas. But, now, while I've been to
most of the major cities and metro areas, my focus is really on
exploring the smaller cities and towns and the natural wonders of
this land.

Of
course, there is even more to see in Canada, Alaska and Mexico. I
dare say, I have a lifetime of travel and exploration ahead of me
without even leaving the North American continent. There are still a
few places I'd like to see overseas, but frankly, with the hassles
and inconveniences of air travel these days and so much turmoil in
various parts of the world, for the most part, I'll be just as happy
to visit the rest of the world through travelogues on large, flat
screen, 3D TV's.

No,
it's not the same as actually going to the places, eating the food,
smelling the aromas and mingling with the people, but I've learned
that everyone will die with “unfinished business.” So, I will
still be looking for an opportunity to revisit New Zealand and I'd
love to get to Australia. I would also like to revisit Ireland.

There
are places in Europe I haven't been, but that's okay. I wouldn't mind
getting back to Prague and Budapest. I've been to China, but frankly,
from what I've seen of the explosive growth and pollution there, it's
not high on my list to revisit. I wouldn't mind spending some more
time in Hawaii and exploring the Big Island. I'd also enjoy visiting
some of the Caribbean Islands and revisiting the Bahamas.

That's
a lot of territory to cover in the X number of good travel years I
have left ahead of me. Wherever I make it to will be a gift and I'm
going to continue enjoying the lifestyle of a nomadic wanderer.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

What
can exemplify personal freedom anymore than being on a beach sans any
clothing? So, you might be asking what might I have been wearing and
how far away was I with my telephoto lens? I am not a practicing
nudist or naturist, the two labels that seem to be used
interchangeably for this lifestyle. However . . . when in Rome, do as
the Romans do. Yes! I was a full participant and the photo was not
taken with a telephoto lens.

The
backstory for this photo begins with a trip to Florida with my
friend. We had the use of another of my friend's house in a Miami
suburb while he was traveling on business for an extended period. The
friend I was traveling with, who I'm still good friends with, decided
she was going to test me and see how much of a prude I was. What she
didn't know is that I had gone skinny dipping on a few occasions
before I met her. I also spent two weeks in New Zealand where the
folks are much more laid back about things like the naked human body,
as are people in most of the rest of the world. So, I had enjoyed
several group nude experiences there as well. I passed her test hands
down.

This
is Haulover Beach in Miami, Florida, an internationally acclaimed,
clothing optional beach. I hadn't been there before, nor had my
friend, but she is an RN and very comfortable with the naked human
body. She adapted instantly to being on a beach, nude, with numerous
other strangers all wearing the attire we were all born in.

I
grew up in a relatively conservative, northern New Jersey family. I
attended a puritanical Baptist church from as early as I can
remember. Modesty was heavily stressed. Nudity, the naked body, had
shameful, dirty and sinful connotations. So, believe me, my first
couple skinny dipping experiences were very, very stressful for me.
Thankfully, while, as I said, I'm not a practicing naturist, I'm much
more comfortable in my skin (no pun intended) today than I was as a
repressed teenager and college student.

Being
nude with other people in a situation like this is very natural
(thus, the label, naturist) and freeing. One rapidly learns to accept
that all the beautiful bodies we see in movies, soft and hard core
porn magazines, Playboy and similar magazines are the exception.
People are just people. We all have different bodies. Naturists, for
the most part, at least according to my experience, are not who we
may define as exhibitionists. If they were, they wouldn't allow
children and teenagers to be exposed to the lifestyle. That being
said, yes, there were at least a few exhibitionists on the beach.
They had to make sure everyone knew they were there and focused on
their usually unexposed “assets.” Exhibitionists have always
fascinated me. Some time I'd like to interview some. But, naturists
are just you're average person who accepts their bodies and those of
everyone else as a natural part of life.

Perhaps
you've already had the opportunity to experience the freedom and less
stressful environment of a place like Haulover Beach. You know how
enjoyable it is to strip away any facades and just be yourself. If
you've never had the opportunity or made the effort to walk on an
ocean or lake beach au naturel, you should. After all, all you're
doing is removing those last few scraps of cloth separating you from
a feeling of real freedom. And, truthfully, it's not like we all
don't know what the small pieces of cloth are covering? It doesn't
matter if you're beautiful or not. It doesn't matter if you're thin
and fit or a plus size and lumpy. It doesn't matter how large or
small or perfect your male or female “attributes” are. It doesn't
matter if you're wealthy or poor, belong to the country club or dine
at a soup kitchen. No one judges anyone else. There are just no
facades.

Of
course, I would never force anyone to go to a clothing optional beach
or participate in any kind of situation, like taking all their
clothes off in a group of nude people if it made a person feel
uncomfortable. Like everything else in life, this is a lifestyle
choice and doesn't suit everyone. I've not had an opportunity to
revisit Haulover Beach since this time, but I will the next time I'm
in the Miami area and the weather is conducive.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

This
week's photo, or actually a symbol, isn't about me or the places or
experiences I've had. It's about the horrific experience the French,
and especially the Parisians, had on November 13, 2015 . . . Friday
the 13th.

In
the U.S., the Friday following our Thanksgiving Day holiday has
become known as Black Friday. Frankly, I never got it . . . the
designation, that is. However, Friday the 13th of November
this year is truly a Black Friday for France.

We
may not all agree with each others' or other countries' politics, but
no one, no people or country deserves what happened in Paris on that
day.

I
have little more to say than my thoughts, prayers and condolences go
to the people of France and especially the families and friends of
those who lost loved ones through the carnage that occurred that day.
That includes at least one American family (so far). Vive la France,
God Bless America and God Bless all freedom loving people everywhere.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Behold,
what you are looking at this week is a miniature model of the replica
of the Sandy Hook (New Jersey, my home state) Lighthouse which is 15
miles from this location on Lake Havasu and approximately 2,500 miles
from the actual, real McCoy on Sandy Hook in New Jersey. Go figure.

So,
now I've seen the actual, original Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the
model of the replica on the opposite side of the continent. I didn't
actually go to see the life size replica. I'll look forward to doing
that the next time I'm in Lake Havasu City.

Here
is the “Rest of the Story” as Paul Harvey would say. This
information is on the plaque to the right of the “monument” of
the replica of the original. What? Does any of this make sense? Maybe
I should just say . . . “Only in America.”

Sunday, November 1, 2015

This
is a view from the front door and porch of my residence and the world
headquarters of Oakhill Press and Oakhill Recordings for nearly six
years. I affectionately called it Oakhill Ranch. It
was located just outside Winchester, Virginia in the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley. This day, exactly
seven years ago today, was the first day I was no longer residing on
Oakhill Ranch and Oakhill Press and Oakhill Recordings were no longer
headquartered at this location.

This
was, as I sometimes refer to it, my “Emancipation Day.” I had
made a decision several months earlier that when the long term lease
I had on this property terminated I would not renew and I would
leave. This bucolic vista greeted me everyday for most of those six
years (except for those days when I was traveling). I have displayed
other photos of the house and property in Photo-of-the-Week posts in
the past. To be honest, there wasn't any view from the house that I
didn't cherish. But, I loved this view from the front probably most
of all.

I've
been very fortunate and blessed during my lifetime and professional
career. I have only worked (and operated my businesses) outside my
home at some commercial or similar location for a total of about ten
years at the most. The places I've lived and operated my businesses
for the other approximately 40 years, have been idyllic. While some
may feel I wasn't as financially successful as many entrepreneurs,
my quality of life made my life very rich indeed and definitely
better than many of the others.

Finally,
the day came when it was time for me to make another lifestyle
choice. It was with no small amount of anxiety and trepidation that I
made the decision and took the action. So, here I am, exactly seven
years later with nary a single regret for my decision and looking
forward to an even richer future as a location independent individual
and entrepreneur.

For
anyone who finds himself or herself at a crossroad and place of
decision regarding your future, I am in full empathy with you. As the
saying goes, “been there, done that.” My simple advice is that
you weigh your options, have some idea what you would like your
future to look like and then make the decision and take the action.
DO NOT become a victim of the “paralysis of analysis.”

Could
you make a mistake? Of course! Does that make it the end of the
world? Absolutely not! And remember, nothing ventured, nothing
gained. Even if you make a mistake, you will learn something. Mostly,
you'll learn more about yourself, who you are and what you are
seeking in life. As stated, I have not regretted my choice or
decision for a single minute over these seven years.

If
you want to talk with someone who has, as I said, been there and done
that, contact me. My contact info is here. Ed's Contact Info

One
last note about this photo. It is not a very high definition photo
because I took it with the very basic and simple first digital camera
I bought to enter the world of digital photography. But, I like the
photo and even though it's not one of the higher resolution photos I
took in succeeding years with a better camera, it's still a keeper
for me.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

This
week it's a simple photo. These homes and apartments are overlooking
the beach and the Pacific Ocean at Manhattan Beach, California. It's
January, so the sun sets around 5:30 PM. It's about 4:00 PM when I
took this photo. I've seen Pacific sunsets and I can guarantee, they
are breathtaking. But, then again, so are all the other ones I've
seen.

I
can only imagine what it costs to live in these homes on the beach,
but I'm sure everyone who lives here believes whatever it costs is
worth it. My friend, Dan has a fantastic view of the Pacific from his
home perched high above the Pacific near Santa Barbara, California. I
saw a sunset at his home and it was glorious. But, even back east,
the sunsets are glorious. My friend Barbara lives on the top floor of
an eight story condo on the beach in Sarasota, Florida overlooking
one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the Gulf of
Mexico. Her view is nothing short of awesomely amazing.

We
are blessed to live on this beautiful planet with all that nature and
God laid out before us. Some people are able to afford to live in
places like these. But, that doesn't mean we all can't enjoy these
scenic and glorious sunsets, sunrises and all of nature's other
bounties. Don't let life slip by and not do everything to you can to
explore these wonders of God and nature. That's one regret I won't
have and I hope you won't either.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Of
course, this isn't really a boat, it's a ship. I learned a simple
differentiation between a boat and a ship during my younger days when
I did some boating with friends. It made it very clear. You can put a
boat on a ship, but you can't put a ship on a boat. Works for me.

At
any rate, this photo was taken when I took a cruise from New Orleans
to Cozumel and back on a Carnival Cruise Line ship, the Holiday.
Actually, the ship in the photo is the Fascination. If you look
carefully, you'll see another ship right behind it. That was our
ship, the Holiday.

The
lovely lady who posed so nicely for this shot is my friend, Carol.
She and her husband, Brian, are long time, good friends from New
Zealand. They were coming to the U.S. and told me to meet them in New
Orleans to join them on this cruise in September of 2003. Having
never been on a cruise before, at least not on an ocean going ship, I
figured – another adventure and something to cross off my life
list.

So,
here we are, two Kiwi's from down under, one Yank, originally from
northern New Jersey, meeting in New Orleans and ending up in
Cozumel, Mexico. I wasn't particularly enamored by cruising on a ship
that was like a small city. For my liking, there were too many
people. A lot of people love these cruises. Personally, I'd like to
sail on a much smaller ship with perhaps not more than 50 to 100
people on board. I'm sure we wouldn't have all the amenities, but
that's okay since I really didn't use most of the amenities on this
ship.

I
have to admit that I really enjoyed the snorkeling I did that day off
the coast of Cozumel and the visit to the ancient Mayan ruins at
Tulum. Was it a great experience? Absolutely! And, a good time was
had by all.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

This
unassuming building with the antique Chrysler parked out front and
the ExecutiveBooks.Com sign is not what one would assume from the
outside. It was, in fact, the personal library of my dear, long-time
friend, the late Charlie “Tremendous” Jones. I write this in the
past tense because Charlie died October 16, 2008. I took these photos
on my next to the last visit I had with my friend about two months
before he passed away.

As
you can see from the other interior photos, this building held a
treasure in old and antique books and other memorabilia. There is
nothing new in this room. There are no new or current books. There
are no new or current recordings. There are no new or current
paintings, photos or graphic works. Even the fliers, brochures and
booklets on the tables are vintage or antique.

Yes!
That is a real, working player piano with a large selection of piano
rolls. You can see one threaded in the window on the piano. Over near
the windows there is a wax cylinder player. I believe it was an
Edison unit. There was a large selection of historic wax cylinders
including some important speeches. There was also an old Victrola
from the Victor Talking Machine Company with a collection of historic
78 rpm phonograph records.

There
was an aura about this room. Over the years I knew Charlie, I had
been in the library on several occasions. The building stood adjacent
to the guest house Charlie maintained on his small farm in
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. For many years during some of the
tougher times and the start-up days of his publishing business and
his international speaking career, this guest house was his
headquarters. The building where the library was housed was the
warehouse. Charlie had his personal, private office in the guest
house where it remained until his death. Yes! There was a sizable
library of books there, too. Some of those were more contemporary.
Charlie and I spent many hours in conversation in that comfortable
office.

As
you look around the library you'll see all kinds of books. Charlie
loved books, all books. There were many first editions. He would be
speaking to a huge audience and he'd hold up a book and kiss it to
get his point across. I don't recall a lot about Charlie's childhood
or education. I know he was originally from Alabama. I don't recall
if he attended college. He became an insurance salesman for one of
the largest U.S. insurance companies at age 22. By age 23 he was
winning major sales awards. By 30 he was one of the most successful
insurance sales people in the U.S.

This
room is the essence of Charlie Jones' love of books, learning and
sharing the books and the knowledge gained from them. During his
lifetime he published countless books for, at the time, lesser known
or unknown authors, several of his own books, supplied millions of
books to individuals and businesses and spoke to over 5,000 audiences
around the world. To say I cherish these photos and the photos I have
with Charlie, is an understatement.

This
building still exists. It's now owned, along with the guest house, by
one of Charlie's daughters and her husband. I haven't been in either
building since the ownership changed. I do know the library, and
everything it represented to Charlie, to me and the countless others
who visited it, is gone. Charlie had made arrangements to donate all
of its contents prior to his death. So, being in that room in the
past and now looking at these photos is definitely a “blast from
the past” for me. However, while the library is gone, it will never
be forgotten, nor will my friend, Charlie “Tremendous” Jones.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

That's
all it takes to change the course of your life. Just one Instant in
time. In this particular instant, actually, a couple nights before I
took this photo, I was driving this car. I finally found this
particular car and bought it less than a year before in September of
2010. I had already acquired my South Dakota license plates and left
as soon as I put them on the car for Rapid City, South Dakota to
complete my official residence change and obtain my South Dakota
drivers license. This car was destined to be the “toad” (RV slang
for the car towed behind a motor home) for the motor home I was
shopping for. And, in one instant all my plans changed.

Yes,
you're looking at a totaled 2002 Ford Focus that had the low mileage,
the exact door, seating and cargo configuration, the five-speed
manual transmission, the engine and other features I specifically
wanted. It even had a satellite radio receiver installed. It took me
two months to find this particular car. I downsized from my 1996
Cadillac Seville STS, one of my favorite cars of all time. I had
256,000 miles on the old Caddy. I bought it with 104,000 miles on the
odometer. The Focus was about 8 years old when I bought it and only
had a few thousand miles over 50,000 on the odometer. Then . . .

a kamikaze deer shot out of the darkness of the night and in that
instant everything

about my future plans changed. No! I wasn't hurt,
just a little stunned. I didn't even make contact with the airbag
when it deployed. And, therein, lies the crux of the matter. There
was no one in the passenger seat, but both airbags deployed as you
can see in this photo.When the insurance adjuster went over the car,
he had to total the car. The actual damage to the front of the car,
headlight, grill and windshield were all repairable at nominal
expense. It was those two airbags that moved the car into the totaled
category. They brought the cost of repairs well over the threshold
that made sense for the insurance company.

Obviously,
one doesn't plan for an accident, therefore they always happen at an
inopportune time. This was no exception. The insurance company had me
in a rental car virtually immediately. So, I had wheels. However, due
to my schedule and upcoming events, I had absolutely no time to go
shopping for a replacement for this vehicle. It took me two months to
find this Ford Focus, so I fully expected it to take that much time
or possibly longer to find another car matching my precise
requirements as the “toad” I had planned this car to be.

Ultimately,
by the middle or end of September I had changed my plans. I decided
to alter my plans for a motor home and a toad. I decided to find
either a Class B or Class B+ van based motor home or a high-top
conversion van I could modify myself to use as both a tiny house on
wheels and a daily driving vehicle. I looked at a couple vehicles,
but ultimately decided on the self modified, high-top conversion van,
now known as My McVansion.

The
positive outcome is the change in plans saved me from paying
insurance on two vehicles, double maintenance, upkeep, operating
expense, repairs, depreciation and the cost to modify the “toad”
vehicle for towing. The frustration is that I had sold a beautiful
high-top conversion van with a slightly larger engine, nicer interior
and even lower mileage only about 18 months earlier.

Such
is life! Everything can change in an instant. It certainly did for
that kamikaze deer. It's “lights” went out permanently in that
instant. Of course, I'm very thankful I didn't lose control and roll
the car or hit a tree or worse. Ultimately, perhaps, there was a
message from the universe in that event. Although, I just think it
was a standard dumb deer doing what dumb deer do and I just happened
to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that night.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

I'm
not going to deny it, I love food! As a matter of course, since I
live a simple, minimal and frugal lifestyle by choice, I enjoy a
simple menu with foods I can easily keep and prepare in or outside My
McVansion. BUT, I will splurge from time to time when the occasion
calls for it. And this occasion called for it.

This
order of fish and chips was so good, I almost forgot to stop and take
a picture. Those two large pieces in the back of the tray are the
remains of several large pieces of deliciously breaded and fried,
hand cut fish. I believe she told me they used halibut. The cole slaw
was homemade and very fresh. The tartar sauce is also homemade.
Unfortunately, as seems to have become the standard, the chips, aka
french fries, were of the commercial variety. Had the fries been
real, English style, homemade “chips,” the meal would have been
perfect. It was still excellent. (Side note: That is ice tea in the Coke Zero cup in the photo, I don't drink most carbonated soft drinks.)

No!
I will not deprive myself of some of the great food tastes of our
world . . . even if it is fried and I know fried food is “bad”
for me. I don't want to be one of the health advocates who eat
nothing but the best, organically grown, hand processed, healthy food
and one day die . . . of nothing. We're all going to die one day and
I aim to enjoy my share of pleasures before I do. So, some food may
not be the healthiest and best, but it tastes good, so I'll indulge,
guilt free.

This
seafood delight is one of the most popular dishes, er, make that
baskets, on the menu at the Fishermen's Seafood Market in Coos Bay,
Oregon. Maybe I should rephrase that to say “on” the bay at Coos
Bay, Oregon. As you can see, the place is actually on a floating dock
off the main boardwalk that parallels the Oregon Coast Highway, Rt.
101.

I
couldn't have asked for a better day to drive through Coos Bay. The
weather was beautiful. The town was vibrant and busy with a three
block farmers and outdoor market with a festival atmosphere. I had so
many choices of locally grown, raised and prepared foods, including a
great looking hot dog stand – yes, I was tempted.

But,
I parked a few parking spaces down on the Oregon Coast Highway from
the gangplank leading to the Fishermen's Seafood Market. It caught my
eye. I asked a couple local people about it and they gave it a hearty
thumbs up. So, my choice was made.

It's
quite small and it's very simple and quaint inside. As you can see,
it is a seafood market with fresh seafood in the case on the left
side of the photo. So, you can buy, fresh, local seafood or you can
buy prepared meals (notice the menu is small and limited) and take it
out, or you can eat in at one of the four tables and chairs in the
very small dining area. I, obviously, chose to eat in and enjoy the
ambiance.

Now,
to be honest, the best fish n chips I've ever had, to date, was still
somewhere between Amagansett, New York and Montauk Point, at the
eastern tip of Long Island. I'm remembering back about 35 years
because my son was about two years old and he's now 37. The place was
on the side of the road, near the ocean, probably on a sand dune, if
my rememberer is still picturing it, even semi accurately. It was
certainly not pretentious.

I
was told, and I don't know how accurate this story is either, the
place had been established on that spot about 300 years ago when some
of the early colonists were making their way to the New World. Maybe
that's a wive's (or fish) tale. I do know it was like other, similar,
established, family places that had been around for a long time and
handed down through generations. I've not been back to that precise
area since that time, but the fish n chips are burned in my memory.

So,
the bottom line, Fishermen's Seafood Market in Coos Bay, Oregon,
Mmmmmm, good. If you're in Coos Bay (and you'd have to, pretty much,
go out of your way to be in Coos Bay), do try it. I believe you'll
find it worth your time and your taste buds will thank you.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

So,
here we are at the London Bridge. Yes! That London. But, No! Not in
Merry Old England.

It
was in the early 60's when this little wide spot in the Arizona
desert across the Colorado River from California became a small town
and the site of a unique undertaking. The historic London Bridge from
the British city by the same name was purchased from the City of
London. It was painstakingly disassembled and each component
carefully numbered and shipped to the U.S.

After
arriving in Lake Havasu City where preparations had already been
made, the London Bridge was reconstructed to its former glory. It was
opened to the public in 1971 and remains a unique tourist attraction
of this isolated desert city with a current year round population of
around 52,500 people. This location has become a very popular spring
break destination for thousands of college students each spring. The
activities of these students has been the subject of much controversy
over the years.

Everything
that Lake Havasu City has become, including the acquisition and
reconstruction of the London Bridge is the brainchild of Robert P.
McCulloch, the man behind the famous McCulloch Chain Saw. He bought
the land to create the city, opened three McCulloch manufacturing
plants there and provided over 2,700 free flights on his own Lockheed
Constellation to bring prospective buyers to visit the fledgling city
to purchase lots and begin populating the area.

I
find it all pretty remarkable, especially when one takes into
consideration that Robert McCulloch died at the early age (by today's
standards) of 66.

It's
an interesting and pleasant place to visit. However, I would avoid
going there during the spring break time, unless you're a voyeur and
want to watch a bunch of young people going wild. This was the
locale, along with New Orleans, for much of the filming of the
somewhat infamous “Girls Gone Wild” video series.

I'd
also avoid visiting during the late spring, summer and early fall
months when the temperatures easily top out between the high 90's and
the record high of 128 degrees. during the day. The nights are cooler
during that time, but seldom below the mid 80's and often upwards of
94 degrees.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

What
can I say? I just love sunrises and sunsets and here's another
example of a majestic sunset. I took this photo from one of the
highest points in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, just below the Griffith
Observatory. This was early evening, probably around 6:05 PM on
January 8, 2015 to be precise.

There's
not much to say about this photo. I think it speaks for itself.
Nature projects its majesty even over a huge city and metropolitan
area like Los Angeles. This view is, of course, looking out over the
Pacific Ocean, which is not visible in the picture due to the
buildings.

If
you look carefully, you can see a blimp in the picture. I don't know
if it was the Goodyear Blimp or some other advertiser's blimp, it was
too far away to tell. But, I can honestly say it's been a while since
I've seen a blimp. And, I can just imagine the view of the sunset
over the Pacific from that blimp. Oh Yeah!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

LaVale, Maryland is a suburb of Cumberland, Maryland in what's known as the "panhandle" in the western part of the state. It's about 22 miles north of my West Virginia base camp. As you can tell from the photos, this is the parking lot at the Walmart Supercenter and these are vehicles you won't see everyday.

I was in the LaVale (also spelled Lavale and La Vale, I can't be sure which is the most accepted) Walmart picking up some items for My McVansion that were not in stock in the New Creek, West Virginia store. When I came out to the parking lot, there was this unusual tow car and teardrop trailer.

Obviously, the car was an antique and had been nicely restored. It reminded me of the old black and white, cops and robbers movies from the 1930's that either the police drove or the mobsters drove. Probably both when you think about it. The trailer appeared to be a homemade teardrop trailer. It looked to be built very sturdy, but it just didn't quite have that commercial "finish" to it.

I snapped a few photos and waited a short time to see if the owner(s) could fill me in on both vehicles. Alas, I couldn't wait all that long and they didn't return, so I never met the owners or had an opportunity to learn more about this RV arrangement one won't see everyday. It's just another example of the originality, uniqueness and individuality of the mobile lifestyle.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

There
are bars and there are bars. No, I'm not talking about places you imbibe adult
beverages or the kind you find in correctional institutions. I'm talking about
the kind homes and businesses install on their windows and doors to keep the
occupants of the house or business safe and secure from theft and physical
harm. And who would perpetrate such theft and physical harm? They are the
individuals who may patronize the bars where one imbibes alcoholic beverages
and who often end up behind the bars in the correctional institutions.

Charleston,
South Carolina is a city with a long history, including being recognized as the
location of the start of the U.S. Civil War. It's a city of considerable charm.
Many parts of the city feature homes and commercial areas dating back well over
a hundred years and in many cases over three hundred years. There is an
elegance in this city reminiscent of the "Old South." The wrought
iron stylized bars on this window are indicative of the Old South and that
elegance.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

This
photo is self-explanatory. During the second of my two New Jersey 2013 treks,
this one in October, I was again retracing many of the "footsteps" of
my youthful days growing up in Northern New Jersey. The actual purpose for this
trek was to attend a wedding on the eastern end of Long Island. I had completed
that part of the journey just before I was back in Jersey and cruising up along
the Palisades (fairly sheer cliffs on the northern New Jersey side of the
Hudson River).

As
the sign indicates one can see a lot from this overlook on the edge of the
Palisades. While I was only about 15 miles from where I lived in Clifton, New
Jersey as a kid, I didn't get to this specific overlook very often back then. I
did spend more time a few miles further south in the Fort Lee and Palisades
Park area of the Palisades with the summer job I had during the summer breaks while
attending college.

You
can tell by the fall colors that this was definitely that time of year. Despite
the fact this region is one of the most densely populated parts of the U.S.,
there is still a lot of wooded area. Some of the views along the Palisades are
spectacular during the fall.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

I have been buying and using all kinds of equipment, accessories and devices for my personal use in technology and in equipping my van, aka My McVansion, as an on the road, mobile tiny house. I've generally researched the items before making my purchases and, so far, I've made, what I would say are, excellent choices. It's time for me to share these items with you.

I have purchased two inverters for my van as seen in this photo. The inverters are mounted on a piece of plywood that covers my 8D8A 245 AH, sealed gel cell house battery. They are located in the storage area under my bunk. Both inverters came from Amazon after researching for best value and reliability.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Some
things seem to pass the test of time like the Pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall
of China and a city like Venice, Italy. The U.S. isn't near as old as these
other examples, but there are still some places that have that certain historic
aura. Parts of the Jersey Shore are like that. For readers who are not from New
Jersey, the Jersey Shore is the name used for at least a century forthe entire 141 mile New Jersey Atlantic
Coast. You may also hear the phrase "down the shore" commonly used by
those who frequent this major eastern resort area. And, yes, there was a cable
TV show titled "Jersey Shore." Three guesses what it was about.

The
photo above is what remains of the historic Asbury Park Palace Casino. To the
very right edge of the photo you can see just a small portion of what was known
as the Carousel Building where an historic merry-go-round resided for decades
from the time it was originally built. The structure, or what remains of it,
except for the part of the complex that extended out onto the beach and has
been demolished, is undergoing restoration.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Today's
photos are about reminiscing. It's just nice to be able to stop, relax and
recall some wonderful past memories. This is a photo I shot along the front
fence line looking north with the early morning sunrise to my right and the
long, relaxed shadows. It's obviously the fall of the year with the resplendent
colors Mother Nature reveals during this season as the northern hemisphere
prepares for the coming winter and its muted tones.

The
ranch provided so many awesome Kodak moments. The rolling pastures, the stark
black fences, the beautiful forested areas, lots of different kinds of wildlife
and birds including eagles and hawks. Of course, the horses in the pastures
were a subject unto themselves. They are not pictured in this photo.

This
photo is the old ranch house with the morning sun lighting it up. This was
during my last month living on the ranch, so it's particularly poignant. If you
look closely, you'll see "stuff" on the porch I was eliminating
through "moving sales" during this period. I have so many fond
memories of standing (and sitting) on this porch in the early morning. It was
glorious and the view was mine, all mine, for about six years of my life.

I
also have fond memories of sitting on this porch in the evening as the sun was
setting. The house faced east, so the sunset was behind the house and it was
all wooded back there, so I didn't get to see the actual sunsets. But, Nature
was kind and usually reflected the beautiful colors, albeit a bit more muted,
in the front of the house.

Especially
pleasant times were discussing any topic, typically, not earth shaking, with my
buddy from our Air Force days, sitting on the porch in the evening and sipping
a glass of 16 year old, single malt Scotch. Those were grand days. Dave and I
speak of those days from time to time and how we miss them.

But, this is not the only beautiful place I've
experienced, so, while it's nice to stop and reminisce once in a while, I look
forward and onward to more awesome vistas.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Here
I am, "Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona" on the legendary
road from Chicago to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, Route 66.
As you can see, Route 66 runs through the Main Street, downtown area of
Winslow.

Most
people of an age remember Nat 'King' Cole's timeless hit song, "Get Your
Kicks On Route 66." Cole did his 1946 version of the song the year it was
written by Bobby Troup. It may be the most remembered version of the song.
Troup's wife, Cynthia, actually came up with the title of the song based on a
trip she and her husband took from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles. The song has
been recorded by scores of artists and groups since then including The Rolling
Stones. The highway even had its own TV drama from 1960 to 1964, titled
"Route 66" starring Martin Milner for the entire series and George
Maharis for the first three years and Glenn Corbett for the final year.

Yet,
despite the fact that Route 66 goes right through Winslow, there was no mention
of the small town in the song lyrics. Also, not one episode of the 116 shows
from the Route 66 TV series was ever filmed in Winslow. Shows were shot on
location all over the U.S. The majority of the shows were filmed in towns and
cities I've been in during my life. Many of those cities were hundreds or even
a thousand or more miles from Route 66. Winslow just didn't seem to have the
appeal of Flagstaff or Kingman.

Then,
along comes a group of troubadours by the name of the Eagles. Glenn Frey, one
of the founders of the group, co-wrote a song with Jackson Browne titled,
"Take It Easy." Browne started writing the song for himself, but
couldn't come up with a second verse that worked. Frey liked what he heard and
saw and convinced Browne to let him finish the song. The rest is history.
"Take It Easy" became the Eagle's first hit single. And, though the
name Winslow, Arizona is only mentioned one time in the second verse of the
song, it has immortalized this little town that has all but been bypassed in
time by Interstate 40.

So,
what happens when you write a song with a name of a small Arizona town in the
lyrics? First, a park is built in the center of the tiny town immortalizing
"Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona." A life sized bronze
statue by sculptor Ron Adamson, is erected to immortalize the song's singer,
Glenn Frey. A brick wall is erected with a trompe l'oeil mural by artist John
Pugh, depicting the scene of standing on the corner when a flatbed Ford driven
by a blonde girl drives by, reflected in the window of the storefront in the
mural. And tourist trap stores capitalize on the name along with all kinds of
knick-knacks, memorabilia, tee shirts, etc. spring up and this is the main
thing . . . thousands of tourists flock to the little town each year to
"Stand on the Corner" in front of the mural and next to the stature
of Glenn Frey while their photo is snapped. It doesn't hurt that the huge Route
66 U.S. Highway shield is painted in the middle of the road at that particular
intersection.

I'm
sure Jackson Browne, Glenn Fry and the rest of the Eagles had no idea the
impact that one line in a light rock song would have and, quite likely saved
the small town of Winslow, Arizona. It's just another of the interesting things
one learns when living free and traveling this country (or the world).

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Simple
photo this week. I found this sign at Whidden's Marina in Boca Grande, Florida
on Gasparilla Island off the southwest coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.
It's near Port Charlotte.

Is
the sign for real or just a hoax? I don't know. It caught my eye and gave me a
feeling of a much earlier time in this laid back island community. Whidden's
Marina is on the National Register of Historic Places.

According
to this other sign near where we parked our car (my friend, Tommy Head, from
Port Charlotte brought me out to the island to visit this quaint little town),
the marina has been in operation since 1925. That's 90 years and counting.

I
have to say, the structure appears to be the original 1925 building and may
have actually been the 'Sity Hall' back then. They've done a great job of
maintaining the appearance of a building that's been around and actively used
since 1925. A coat of paint would definitely destroy its state of senescence.

There
is also a beautiful, stately, old resort hotel on the island, The Gasparilla
Inn, but that will be the subject of another Photo-of-the-Week article some
time in the future.